Gender Parity Gains Stall as Women Face New Barriers in Latin America and the United States

A study of women in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia found that 44% of respondents fear appearing exaggerated or unrealistic when discussing their career goals, indicating internalized barriers that limit ambition before women even enter the labor market. Researchers from Casa Mundo Market Intelligence and Natura linked the hesitation to social norms and family expectations that act as “silent self‑exclusion” filters.

Separate research by S&P Global Market Intelligence shows that progress for women in senior corporate roles in the United States has slowed for the first time in almost two decades. In 2023, women held 22.3% of senior‑leadership positions, up only 0.48 percentage points from the prior year, while representation in C‑level posts fell to 11.8% from 12.2% in 2022. Projections now suggest gender parity in senior leadership may not be reached until the 2030s‑2040s, and C‑level equality could be delayed until the 2050s‑2070s.